GOP Rep: Todd Akin ‘Partly Right’ On Legitimate Rape — “Legitimate rape” is back. Just a couple months after former Rep. Todd Akin's (R-MO) famous use of the phrase helped contribute to a double-digit loss in the 2012 Missouri Senate race, a Republican congressman and medical doctor …

Coins Against Crazies — So, have you heard the one about the trillion-dollar coin? It may sound like a joke. But if we aren't ready to mint that coin or take some equivalent action, the joke will be on us — and a very sick joke it will be, too. — Let's talk for a minute …

The debt ceiling must go — Here is a stubbornly well-kept secret: the debt ceiling is arbitrary, doesn't affect the deficit, and serves no real function in keeping spending down. In addition, it has recently become a cudgel which extremist Republican legislators use to beat the rest of us into submitting to political blackmail.

Men armed with rifles walk through Portland to ‘educate’ — Two men carrying assault rifles on their backs said they were simply exercising their Second Amendment right, but police said they scared plenty of people. — Calls started coming in to 911 dispatchers shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Joint Statement by President Obama and President Karzai — At the invitation of President Obama, President Karzai and his delegation visited Washington January 8-11, 2013. President Karzai's visit comes at an important juncture for both our nations, as we take steps to further strengthen …

White House gun plan: An end run around the NRA — President Barack Obama is trying an end run around the NRA — rallying groups as varied as churches, medical organizations, retailers and the Rotary Club to build support for new gun regulations. — It's an unusual strategy …

France confirms Mali intervention — President Francois Hollande says French troops are taking part in operations against Islamists in northern Mali. — French troops “have brought support to the Malian army to fight against the terrorists”, Mr Hollande said.

Conservative ideas need a new message — Jim DeMint represented South Carolina in the Senate from 2005 to 2013 and in the House from 1999 to 2005. — The U.S. Senate reached an all-time low — a hard mark to achieve — last week as I said my goodbyes to rejoin the real world.

President Obama to Award Medal of Honor — On February 11, 2013, President Barack Obama will award Clinton Romesha, a former active duty Army Staff Sergeant, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. — Staff Sergeant Romesha will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions …

The Washington Post's Confused Anti-Hagel Crusade — On December 18, the Washington Post editorial board penned an unusually forceful broadside declaring that Chuck Hagel was “not the right choice” to be secretary of defense. The chief reason, the board wrote, was that Hagel's views …

Alisa Valdes: Anti-feminist romance not so romantic — Alisa Valdes' book “Feminist and the Cowboy” is about a man who taught her to “submit.” Now she says he abused her — It's a romance-memoir about a hardcore feminist who falls in love with a cowboy who teaches her to reconnect with her …

NJ Mayor Booker Files to Run for US Senate in 2014 — Newark Mayor Cory Booker has filed paperwork allowing him to raise money to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, setting up intrigue over his political future and that of 89-year-old Frank Lautenberg, who currently holds the seat.

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